Former Congressman Duped by Nigerian Scams

Wow, someone close to the Clintons who is involved in scheming people out of millions of dollars…No Way! Unbelievable.

I’m always stunned that seemingly intelligent people are still falling for the Nigerian scams!!!

Hmmmm. Gee, I’m sorry that I still don’t have room on my ‘Things To Worry About’ list to add ‘Who Chelsea Clinton MIGHT Be Going To Marry’. Didn’t we go thru this routine a few years ago with some other guy? In between reports that kept cropping up that she – and her mother – MIGHT be lesbian.

And these represent our elected officials. Wow!!!

haha, what a dummy.

What is wrong with this guy? How can any normal, rational thinking person fall for these scams? Even my naive 75 year old mother would recognize these scams for what they are. It just goes to show you what kind of people are working in our government; Morons and fools.

always check facts. This guy isn’t a former Iowa congressman. He’s from New York

My God! In this day and Age why would anybody with any bit of intelligence be scammed by such unprofessional and transparent con artists? I guess we should check the IQ’s of our politicians before electing them…

I almost fell for a scam just like this once … but I was in second grade.

Exactly! A former democratic congressman is this stupid and the story doesn’t mention that he was a democrat. As mentioned in another comment, if this guy were republican, the headline would have read, “Former Republican Congressman Falls for Nigerian Scheme”. Let us all applaude the liberal media for another job well done!

You wonder why anyone could be dumb enough to fall for such a scheme?
Don’t forget you probably voted for George Bush or John Kerry!!!!!!
How big a fool are we????????

No excuse!! None of Politicians is trusted….

Not to embrace what some few Nigerians are doing despite the selfishness and money greed of some Americans, but it is annoying to always point fingers directly to any African country while we have the other countries that are actually the root cause of these scams Please direct your investigation and news from the root and not to the stem. Be fair and stop the rethoric.

“in the ineterest of the children”
The children are innocent.
You are innocent.
That sleezeball SOB in prison is innocent – in that he did not do “It” (whatever “It” is).
“We should all just be friends” and forget this whole “fatal attraction” exists because after all “Tomorrow is another day” in Washington. Is that ink I see on your hands.

You cannot cheat an honest man.

This is hardly an issue of Republicans v Democrats, especially as he did not steal THIS money while in office.
One comment to Mme fluterby; Ther will always be a first time that you hear of anything, this just happens to be one of those times.

Its not surprising that there are some people dumb enough to fall victim to this once. But how could anyone be so dumb as to fall victim to the same scam 3 times?

Greed, power, corruption, stupidity, what else is new? Leave the kids alone unless they are proven greedy, corrupt and stupid.
Now let’s get on to Cheney, and the Dems and Repubs who only provide access to wealthy lobbyists and friends. No wonder Marc’s dad wanted the big bucks.
On another note: How about Hillary Clinton, and Chuck Schumer terrorizing thier district staff members? this is supposed to breed loyalty? Give me back Senator “Pothole” D’Amato. He knew how to run a district office and serve constituents even if it wasn’t a photo op.

I don’t believe this guy was scammed out of 3 million dollars, at all. I believe he took other people’s money and put it in a bank account in his name, then told them he was scammed by Nigerians and all their money was gone. The former Dem congressman isn’t stupid enough to be scammed like that, but the people who gave him 3 million dollars, then bought his story, are.

Yes, Mezvinsky has come a long way from Sioux City. His wife was a real winner on local DC TV, but mistreated the crews, so her local health show was relegated to 5AM Sunday morning, I was told.
I have been the lucky recipient of dozens of Nigerian e-mail scams, Dutch lottery winner scams, and recently, other African scams.
It’s hard to believe that anyone could be greedy enough or stupid enough to fall for such whack-job fakery, but congressmen, like intellectuals, can believe in anything.

Why should we be surprised about a former congressman falling for and/or trying schemes like these? After all…aren’t these the people who continue to bring us Social Security and refuse to find ways to privatize accounts?

Atn Nigirians
Use all the millions of dollars that are floating through your country and buy yourselves out of poverty! Dont wait on a honest american (you just e-mailed) to free the funds!
haha

If you want to read some more about these types of scams, go to http://www.snopes.com and key in “nigerian scams”.

The guy is in prison for STEALING FROM CLIENTS, a garden variety crime.
He is STUPID for believing that the Nigerian scams are real. VERY STUPID!
He is NOT in jail for being stupid. He is not innocent and he is not a victim.
He was a DEMOCRAT Congressman — a demonstrably CROOKED and STUPID DEMOCRAT Congressman.
Oh, yeah, he’s good friends with Bill & Hillary Clinton.
There is nothing NEW in this NEWS.
Friends of the Clintons; crooked, stupid Democrat Congressman; in jail; — OK, I see the pattern.
Why wouldn’t his son marry Chelsea?

I get so many of these Nigerian emails I figure one of them just has to be legit.
I won’t be investing though, all my money went into Arkansas land deals and cattle futures.

Wow, it terrifies me that a congressman fell for that. I got one of those scam emails when I was thirteen and had the common sense to do a google search before replying (which revealed it to be a scam). Maybe there should be some kind of iq requirement for serving in Congress.

I’ve heard of ‘like father like son’ but this is ‘like mother like father in-law’ … ??

I agree that we should come up with a new award for this loser. As a “victim of ‘just about every different kind of African-based scam we’ve ever seen,’”, it’s apparent that he’s one of those people who will do anything except work hard to achieve the success they desire.
If instead of trying to find people dumber than he is to scam, perhaps he should have found a legitimate occupation to support his lifestyle.
I also believe that it’s relevant he was close to the Clintons, who seem to always gravitate towards the shady side of financial deals. Birds of a feather, as they say.

Iowans remember Ed Mezvinsky the Congressman as a rather shallow, glib dunderhead with a cheery demeanor. Looking at the picture, some things don’t change

According to Wikipedia, Mezvinsky was elected to Congress from Iowa’s 1st district in 1974 and 1976, so don’t slam the reporters for an inaccuracy in that area. However, I heartily agree that if he were a Republican, the headline would include that fact and the article would be peppered with his party affiliation. This is just liberal reporting as usual.

Bill Haas – I think you are the one who needs to check facts.
This person most certainly is a former congressman from Iowa.

As the story neglects to say what party this fool belongs to, he must be a Democrat. I love how they selectively leave these things out!

Why didn’t he look in his freezer if he needed some cold hard cash. Other Democratic Congressmen do it without consequence.

“The Mezvinkskys were also close to Bill and Hillary Clinton and were frequent guests at White House state dinners”
Democrat Culture of corruption.

Wow…the parade of Democrat dimwits is ramping up. Someone please tell me how someone seemingly so intelligent could fall for a racket so obviously bogus.

YAY!! Another Clinton full of class! /sarc

I think I would be ashamed of myself if I knew someone this stupid. If this fool is accepted by the ” big boy’s ” then no wonder we are in such a bad way, 3 times. Amazing & scarry at the same time. But then again look who’s stearing the ship of state.

Why would this story be important at all. After all, Clinton’s friend only scammed his friends and family out of a measly 3 million. A more important story would be a single Congressman allegedly making suggestive remarks to an adult Congressional Page. Now, that’s a story worth beating the daylights out of, not a story of a former DEMOCRAT Congressman and former DEMOCRAT President’s friend and soon to be relative scamming friends and family out of millions.

You mean it’s all fake? Damn! I better go take back my letter of resignation…..

Welcome to the Family. You’ll fit right in.

He was a Democrat. Funny how it wasn’t mentioned in the story. If he had been a Republican that would have been mentioned and people would be trying to link him to the Bush Administration.

This guy is obviously suffering from a mental incapacity brought on from old age. He’s like the guy who keeps thinking he won the lottery because he gets a mailing proclaiming so. A rational person doesn’t fall for the same scam 3 times in a row.

Hey there Bill Haas, why don’t YOU check facts instead of pretending that you actually know anything about this Democrat grifter.
Ol’ “rat claw” Mezvinsky WAS A CONGRESSMAN FROM IOWA. Elected and sent to Washington. He wrote a book and called Nixon a crook. Of course, Nixon never stole a dime from anyone. Small matter to a Dem looking for a name and a fortune.

It’s just part of the Democrat’s “Culture of Corruption.” To fall for such a well know scam you have to be a Democrat or stupid.

The root cause; greed. Greed unchecked by reason.
But not to worry, President Rodham will pardon him. :)

IT LOOKS S THOUGH BRIAN ROSS IS TAKING LESSONS FROM ANN COULTER! WHAT HAS CHELSEA DONE…….EXCEPT LIVE N EXEMPLARY LIFE……BEYOND POLITICS…….IT WOULD SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST MORE IS ROSS INVESTIGATED THE LOST KATRINA AND THE LOST IRAQ GAZILLIONS!!!!!!!!!!

It just amazes me that the depth of the intelligence that some congressmen/women show that is sitting in our halls of congress. A 5 y/o child could see the ludicrious of this scheme.

HE will be perfect for a family that is full of sneaky scandals. Not to fear the media will make all kind of excuses for all of them.

Brian Ross previously covered the story of fundamentalist churches who had been scammed by Nigerians.
Strangely, he forgot to mention that the fundy church was 99% Republican.
THIS PROVES THE MEDIA IS CONSERVATIVELY BIASED!!!
(Obviously, it doesn’t do anything of the sort, and neither does some ex-Congressman no-one’s ever heard of getting into trouble long after his political career was over.)

Funny how this guy surfaces again. I’m a reporter for an East Tennessee newspaper. Several years ago, M was involved in a complicated scam to market non-existent coal leases in Kentucky. He also was involved in some organization with an American Indian front that purported to give illegally large tax breaks for land donors. There was no connection to any Native American group that anybody could find.

If a congressman does something illegal or immoral and the article doesn’t mention what political party he is from, they are most likely a democrat. If he were a republican it normally is in the headline.

Posted by: Bob | Dec 8, 2006 1:45:29 PM
That “President Rodham” comment sounds like nails on a chalk board. Please quit

Based on the actions of this former congressman YOU ALL should check your facts because he MUST be from NJ as corrupt as this story is. Who cares where he is from. He’s an idiot 3 times over!

No way he fell for the scams. Its just a smoke screen / cover-up for the fact that he’s a crook. Too bad Bill isn’t around to pardon him.

Remember how we heard how smart Kerry and Gore were? Kerry is really pretty stupid. He reminds me of this dumb guy who was scammed. Bush is no smartie but he also is not a conservative either. Politicans seem to be able to memorize the same slogans and smile.

The daughter hooked up with a creep just like her mother did. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. They all deserve each other. A man is usually JUST LIKE HIS FATHER…get ready Bill Clinton for your just desserts!!

Wait these emails I’ve been recieving aren’t legit?!?!?

I do feel sorry for the people who gave money to Mezvinsky but at the end of the day, I firmly believe that you’re the best protector of your interests.
Also, I find it hard to believe they didn’t know what they money would be used for. At the very least, they knew he wasn’t going to invest it in any conventional ways. I mean this Mezvinsky guy is not a stockbroker or hedge fund manager so what did they really think he would do with the money?

“I guess his father is a republican?
Posted by: casey570″
How would anyone ever know, with the news media’s sloppy practice of never identifying the party of criminals if it’s a D or R (but always give that party affiliation if it’s a Green or Libertarian). No, no bias here. Move along, children, move along….
JMR

If only I could steal enough to become a honest man~!
What a maroon!
How does anyone get beyond, Hi I’m from————– in those emails before deleting them?
Good thing he has the being a democrat on his side. This should help keep the story out of the network & new york times “news”

Another interesting item that was omitted from the story is that Marjorie Margolies is the darling of the Clinton’s who double-crossed her constituents in the Philadelphia area by announcing she would definitely NOT support a tax hike. Not only DID she vote for it, she was the tie breaker who put the major Clinton tax increase over the top. Her constituents took care of her quickly at the next election.

He and Bill should get along fabulously.

Most of the people in congress are supremely arrogant narcissists…so it’s not surprising that they get scammed easily; it never even occurs to them that other people out there might be more cunning than they are. (And as bad as this guy is, he’s still not as crooked as Hillary.)

Can we see the instant messages??

i truthfully don’t think americans care about chelsea’s love life. but it is so hard to believe that an educated man could fall for such a moronic deal. i mean after all he is surrounded by all kinds of intelligent business and government officals. all he had to do is have the f.b.i. check it all out. i think one could say that greed makes one totally irrational. hey, i can see another brilliant documentary being made by that guy that invented the internet (al gore).

I’m surprised no one has blamed Bush for the Nigerian scams. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time…

Greed and arrogance with a touch of lost perspective and the need to be SOME ONE of great importance have claimed another FOOL.

Greed! “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

Bryan-
” “liberal media,” that really doesn’t exist.”?!?!?!?
Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny are at your door…
I liken that to the completely unchallenged Sumner Redstone proclamation that he was for Bush…FEC records confirm he gave money to Kerry and Gore’s campaigns. Won’t read it in the NY Times or here in Dan Rather…I mean Brian’s column.
Wake up.

It all boils down to your definition of the woed “is” …

I always thought Chelsea’s boyfriend looked like a young Bill Clinton and that always freaked me out. Now I see that the lie, cheat and steal gene is present in this one, too – and it gets even creepier. Chelsea is marrying her daddy. *shudder*
Also, this story fails to mention that everyone involved is a Democrat. How many of us are surprised? I suppose liberals will come in her now and name drop: “Foley, Nixon, Foley, Foley – You can’t question us or hold us responsible for OUR actions! Foley! MEEYOW SPIT!!”

I asked why this story was IMPORTANT. Your sarcastic response?…”a congressman from 1973-77…” Oh my god! He’s important because he was in Congress 30 YEARS AGO?!! Fine, lets drag up Nixon and beat on that dead horse some more. My point was, you arrogant bozos, is that the crux of the story was about this guy was already IN prison and the only connection they could put in the headline was he might be CHELSEA CLINTON’s father-in-law. So, of course THAT connection was important? If the guys son and Chelsea are getting married (which the last time I did my “fact checking” was legal), why use THAT hook to read the story? Too incredible…
You guys must have wayyyyyyyy too much time on your hands to get all excited about a felon in prison whose possible daughter-in-law is the daughter of an ex-president.

If he is dumb enough to be a friend of the Clinton’s, he is dumb enough to fall for these scams.

If Hillary gets elected President she can pardon this guy free of charge just in time for the wedding.

Father – in jail for greed and stupidity.
Wife – one term in congress…thrown out for raising taxes (yes, a democrat), and yes stupid as well.
Son – dating Chelsea, jury still out

Why is this any surprise to anyone? If we haven’t learned as early as 1992-3 that EVERYONE in the Clintons’ circle has something seamy going on, then we would be idiots. This probably just makes this family as heroic to the Clintons as the Clintons become to the rabid FOBs each time another one of their scandals is revealed! And with Hillary returning to the national scene soon, you can BET there will be plenty more of their more recent slippery adventures exposed to the light!

ABC, once again shows its bias. Where is mention of the fact that this bozo was a Democrat? Is ABC so devoid of intergrity that it would avoid mentioning this critical fact? And why isn’t this a bigger story – I never even heard of this guy.
I never could understand how the party of Bill Clinton – the man who has spent his whole life abusing young women, including a young intern in his employ – could ever pin the label of “culture of corruption” on Republicans. We know of course that the only way that this can only be done is with the complicity of biased news organizations like ABC News.

“in the interest of the Children”, and “they’ve done been put under so much scrutiny”…
True, and for that scrutiny Chelsea is making 6 figures in New York with virtually no qualifications. Spare me the “the children have been through so much” routine….they never have to work again.

Chelsea is not a naive cherub. She, like her father, has taken advantage of politically motivated Hedge Fund employment opportunities:
“Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton has joined Avenue Capital Group.”
“Before working at McKinsey, Clinton graduated from Stanford University in 2001 and then studied philosophy at Oxford University.”
“Avenue Capital founders Lasry and Gardner both donated to her mother’s New York Senate re-election campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.”
“The funds, which pool the money of wealthy investors, are battling to maintain freedom from the government scrutiny attached to more pedestrian money managers.”
“Bill Clinton reportedly stands to make tens of millions of dollars as an adviser to hedge funds managed by Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos.”
A Philosophy degree certainly qualifies Chelsea to work in the high stakes, ultra risky and murky world of hedge fund investing! Nothing political or underhanded about it, wink-wink, nudge-nudge.
Hedge Fund companies do not want scrutiny or regulation – and the Clintons sympathize. With their ongoing history of involvement in fishy financial dealings, is anyone surprised?

Kalibr:
Haven’t heard ONE complaint of anyone’s civil liberties being stolen. No one complained, filed suit or any of that good stuff. You sound like just another kool aid drinker following the liberal line

What is the big deal. When Hillary is elected she will pardon him.

Obviously the man is ill, but what gets me is that when I came to read this article there is a blasted blinking banner ad next to it advertising “Get a free Tiffany & Co. Necklace” Tell me this isn’t some kind of ripoff, yet ABC News is displaying it on their Web site. Used to be that these kinds of ads only appeared in the back of comic books.

You actually think the Bushes and Clinton and Ds and Rs are bitter enemies, don’t you? I guess that explains why Bill Clinton and George Bush, Sr. travel around the world together working on initiatives and why they even go on fishing trips together.
Ever hear of a tiny little scandal called Iran/Contra? It’s when our government armed Islamic terrorists in Iran (with help from Israel—yes, I said Israel) and diverted the profits from those arms sales to help the Contras in Nicaragua. The Contras couldn’t pay for these arms in cash, so they paid in cocaine, which was dumped on our streets. Where was the cocaine flown into? ARKANSAS—during Governor Clinton’s term. Who oversaw the entire operation from Washington? Vice President George Bush, Sr.
Get it through your heads, people. The Democans and Republicrats run the same corrupt system. They are the same. Their enmity is an illusion. The real insiders of Washington know that the party affilitation does not matter. Only the money matters.

This was big news when it happened in Philly. He claimed he was mentally ill…bi-polar…and on meds which made him do these things. He was convicted anyway. He is a Democrat and his wife was too when she was a state congresswoman. She sold her office to the Clinton’s which wound up backfiring on her in her re-election bid. When Billy was going for Medicare reform and needed votes, th Dems stuck their heals in the ground. Billy called her and said, “What do you want to change your vote?”. She replied she wanted a meeting for the public at Bryn Mawr College for the President to come and address Medicare issues. He agreed, she gave him her vote and the party wanted her gone.

If Hillary runs for Prez. this ia a good choice for V.P. And they will WIN !!!

RYAN- the users who responded to your post meant to respond to the one UNDER your name. Not yours. Calm down.

My grandma used to say, “If it’s too good to be true….it is.”
She also taught me the definition of “is.”

Greetings Mr. Mezvinksky. I am the grandson of an important dignitary in Zimbobwa. I have an inheritance of 300 million pebbles that is being held by my accountant. with your help, I want to transfer the pebbles to the US. Can you please help me. Your help will be worth 30 million pebbles. Oh by the way, I need 1 million US dollars for “expenses” that will be repaid. CALL ME.
Signed:
U.R.A. Idiot

Arron C: If Mezvinsky was a Republican the article would have stated that in the headlines? Oh come on. That would be grasping at straws to discredit the Republican party. That’s a TRADEMARK of the right wingers. Just because you don’t agree with how something being reported in the media doesn’t make the media too Liberal but it might make you too Conservative.

Didn’t someone ever teach him that you can’t get something for nothing? You deserve to be taken if you ignore this rule of common sense.

It’s not that this is a huge deal in itself Craig, I don’t think it is… but it does indicate something about the bigger picture. Here’s a story that’s apparently been “out there” for quite a while, dealing with what’s normally media hot buttons that you’d expect they’d ravenously pounce upon – celebrity, corruption, & romance – and yet it’s been largely underplayed. Heck, I’d be inclined to give the media a lot of CREDIT for not trying to trump this up & make it a big story splashed across the mass media – bravo! But I can’t really do that because I know how it’d be playing out if it were Bush’s friends & one of his daughters involved… then we’d see a quite a different take from the media.

I lived across the river from this guy’s congressional district. I thought he was a scumbag back in the 1970s and was glad to see he was defeated at that time by Republican Cong. Jim Leach…who was just defeated this year, after 28 years honestly serving that district.

Besides presenting an excellent example of media bias, this story offers more proof that DEMOCRATS are actually the more corrupt party. And this particular DEMOCRAT is a total idiot! How can he fall for the same lame scam 3 times? He’d better become a much smarter crook if he wants to join the Clinton family.

“Posted by: Ryan | Dec 8, 2006 12:12:24 PM
always check facts. This guy isn’t a former Iowa congressman. He’s from New York”
I think YOU need to cjeck your facts. He most certainly was an Iowa congressman.

OH and to quote the story the second paragraph
“Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa, is serving a seven-year sentence for fraud after getting caught up in a series of Nigerian e-mail scams”
How do you not know he is a democrat? Why dont you ditto heads stop ready real news sites and just let rush limbauhg filter it to you properly..

Well, He was a “Clinton” buddy,I would expect no less.

…you guys see how quickly they took it off the main page? They replaced it with a story about Bette Midler calling Brittney Spears a SLUT!

I think the only thing dumber than the jackass in the article are a bunch of republicans complaining about the fact that his party affiliation is never mentioned, which it is. Maybe this is caused by some sort of wierd sight disease in which you cannot see the word “democrat” in stories which leads you to bitch and moan bias while clutching Bernad Golberg’s latest opus. I think this sight condition also has bearing over one’s ability to read anything having to do with the war in Iraq, evolution, or global warming.

Check any scam emails against the Scamdex website.

* Like Father like daughter,,,nuff said *
That explains the Bush twins…

How can so many of you miss the fact that it said he was a former DEMOCRATIC congressman in the second paragraph?

“Note that the word “Democrat” doesn’t appear in this story–if he were a Republican his party affiliation would be in the first line.
Posted by: Manfredo Felice | Dec 8, 2006 12:09:42 PM”
Did they correct this article or something, because I could swear that in the second paragraph it says, “Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa…” Which would, if one could read, say that the man was a Democrat.

“b…b…b..but Clinton…”

Let’s see if I have this correct. Some bozo who happens to be the father of a young man who is dating Chelsea Clinton got caught up in a Nigerian scam and, in turn, cheated some friends and business acquaintances while trying to cash in on the Nigerian scam. The last I knew, Chelsea’s date with the son doesn’t necessarily mean that either he or his father is now a member of the Clinton family. But the mere mention of the name Clinton draws out all the frothing Republican bloodsuckers who get into a frenzy each time the Clinton name comes up in public. It doesn’t matter that Chelsea Clinton has nothing to do with any scams whatsoever and, in fact, has led a quiet and relatively untainted life since her parents left the White House.
And then there is the case of the Bush twins, our goodwill ambassadors to Argentina, who were the victims of a purse snatcher while bar hopping in Buenos Aires. Of course, that gave all the Repub haters an opportunity to dump on the Bush women as representatives of the hypocritical “family values” espoused by their parents and their political supporters. And to make the pot boil even more furiously, Mary Cheney’s lesbian lifestyle and recent announcement of her pregnancy has brought a rain of fire down on her head by Cheney haters from across the whole political spectrum.
So, at this point, it might be prudent to make note of the fact that Chelsea Clinton, Jenna and Barbara Bush, and Mary Cheney, are adults, and are not a part of the inner policy circles of their parents and, therefore, do not deserve all the hate and approbation leveled on them by those who dislike their parents and their policies. Whatever they do as adults should be viewed as their own doing and judged accordingly. Life for them is difficult enough without superimposing the baggage of their parent’s actions onto them for no reason other than to wreak vengeance on their parents for their political activities. It’s really time to call a halt to these character assassinations and get back to dealing with the real issues.

It’s terrible. I’ve been observing these streams of scam emails from Nigeria, and it’s quite difficult to believe that this many people have fallen victim to it. With email, a skeptical mind is a wise mind – but this detail is too often overlooked.
Most unfortunate is the negative press than Chelsea and her boyfriend may have to endure. It’s not even their fault. Actually, I feel worse for the guy. He’s forever going to be known as “Chelsea’s Boyfriend” or “Chelsea’s Husband.” Haha, best of luck to him.

Now that is a prime example of incredibly convoluted thinking.
First of all, 3000 (almost) American troops have been killed by Iraqi insurgents (Sunni and Shia) and 911, as we all know-except for those educated by Faux Snooze, was perpetrated by Saudi nationals. The blood on YOUR hands was put there by your hero George Bush when he decided Afghanistan (Bin Laden’s burrow) was not ‘target rich’ enough for Big Oil so he LIED his way into war against a nation on its knees from years of swingeing economic sanctions assisted largely by what you refer to as the left wing media. Success or victory or whatever you want to call it was never possible in Iraq as long as the goal of Operation Iraqi Freedom was code for occupation and domination and control of the resource that lies beneath THEIR LAND. Those who put party before country and failed to understand these issues are SOLELY responsible for this fiasco, not those who opposed this stupid venture from the get go. But I do understand why any Bush (PNAC) apologists would want to wash their hands of this blood pronto.
Try again.

Mezvinsky getting involved three times in the same scam isn’t unique. “War Hero” Kerry managed to catch schrapnel in the backblast of his own 40mm projectile twice. Since I’ve trained on the grenade launcher, I couldn’t figure out how someone could be stupid enough to hit himself twice in pretty much the same fashion–until I learned the details of the third wound (you remember, the scratch on his hand that was “treated” with a small band aid) for which he received his third Purple Heart, and which automatically put him in the assignment catagory that allowed him to cut and run from his one-year tour after serving in-country only four months.
Sometimes events of multiple stupidity works, sometimes they don’t.

And…this is newsworthy…..why, again?

How did this thread turn into a political debate. It is about a guy who was stupid, and is only in the news because of his son’s connection to the daughter of famous people. It’s reaching if you ask me. The only value of this story might be to highlight these scams to the apparently many people who would fall for them.

Nigerian scam as its called in 2006 actually is a Spanish advance payment. It takes a thief to scam a thief. The concept is plain and simple for someone that is not predisposed to steal. Think about it; Someone you’ve never seen or met sent you an email or fax telling you about his sorry life blah blah blah.
Then in the same email/fax, promise to give you a big chunk of what most of us will never earn in our lifetime
.. well just some of us. What would you do as a sane, law abiding person? Helloooooooo? Is this a joke or what ? yes .. i think so.
Well from the point of Nigerian thief, he actually see this as a form of retribution and pride to scam the rich thieves. Well to be a victim, its actually not a factual statement. The so called victims are true thieves of African wealth. They still think people from Nigeria or Africa are still jumping around on tress thus they can pull a fast one. Ha ha ah.. Scammer got scammed and now the media is crying foul play ? Hell no. Let the scamming begin maybe people will stop scamming Africans for a change.
What happened to colonialism .. was that a scam or African begged to be liberated ? Lets look at things in perspective. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but this scamming on both sides of the ocean need to stop. I think its time the media get off their high ground and ask why these poor victims (thieves) keep getting drawn into a quick scam. This is no different from stocks, real estate infomercial. Its a scam; John Becks and alike why is not one crying foul play with them ? .. ooops i forgot, there not from Nigeria or Africa and its okay to scam anyone !!!

for all u loonies out there that cannot read
Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa is serving a seven-year sentence for fraud after getting caught up in a series of Nigerian e-mail scams.
no he’s not a republican…

No sympathy here for the moron in jail, or the doc with the suitcase full of cut up black construction paper in the accompanying story. These greedy people who “fall” for these scams are getting what they deserve for feeling they deserve something for nothing. The fact that Chelsea Clinton is dating the son of one of these idiots is irrelevant… would you like to be held responsible for the bad choices someone in your family makes?

Note: The original article did not say that he was a Democratic congressman. (I am a democrat and googled him to determine party affiliation). However, since the HEADLINE and various other statements in the article tie him to the Clintons, one can hardly claim liberal bias.

I am amazed at how this issue has been polarized between Democrats and Republicans. As a Nigerian myself I have no pity for those who have been so scammed. It is pure greed that would make anyone want to reap where he or she has not sown. How can any sane person want to dupe another country and then cry himself hoax when he is duped first? Anyone who has fallen for such scam is a cheat and deserves no sympathy. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue, it is pure common sense. To those who have been so outwitted I say “Shame on you”. You were not scammed. You were simply outwitted.

Someone asked about the “Culture of Corruption.” Here are a few reasons why the tag as stuck.
Bob Ney – currently incarcerated, resigned just last month from congress.
Duke Cunningham – currently incarcerated – resigned from congress.
Lester Crawford – Commissioner, FDA – resigned after only two months on the job. Pleaded guilty to conflict of interest and making false statements.
David Safavian – former head of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget.- convicted of lying to ethics officials and Senate investigators about his ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
This is all within the last few years and most certainly not going to be the last of them.
Mezvinsky was in congress 30 years ago.

I use to get e-mails like that and I along with the advise of a friend, who is a policeman. We didnot respond to them. I even spammed them from my computer. You can do that, did you know that and the computer company, you are set up with, will investigate the e-mailer and find out if they are real or crooked. I always did wonder if there were really people that GULIBLE, to believe they would be that lucky to have a family member; that they didn’t know about, die, and leave them a forture.
Next time try your state’s lottery or your local church’s bingo, if you want easy money. If you lose, at least you know were your money is going to.

The so called “victims” are no victims at all. Someone tells you he intends to commit an illegal act such as smuggling, and invites you to aid and abet him in exchange for a financial reward. You agree; but instead, you get scammed. You have no right to complain because as far as I am concerned, you are both criminals. When will we stop focusing only on the “Nigerian” scam artists and keep calling the other party who is ready to commit a crime a “victim”? Enough of the bias!! Both are criminals and both should be sent to jail

“The republican congress elected in 1995 wasted millions of dollars and thousands of hours trying to get rid of the Clintons and failed. I’m sure Pelosi has forgotten that but some of us will never forget it. I’d like to see Bush/Cheney HUNG for the misery they have brought to this country. But that can wait for 2008.”
Gee, Oldf*rt, you aptly named yourself.
Can’t see any misery that Pres. Bush and VP Cheney have brought on this country, but I’d like to see Clinton and Gore hung for sins of both omission and commission, culminating in the attacks of 9/11.
That 1994 Republican Congress at least got Clinton to pass welfare reform and they did impeach Slick Willie.
Chelsea should marry this guy; his dad’s a grifter just like her parents, so no wonder he seems family-ar.

You had these scammers right where anyone would want them to be – in front of the camera, so why weren’t the cops standing there also? you let them go?

Did you here about another scam right here in the USA? Yes that’s right-GLOBALWARMING. Lots of money to made or lost with this one!

I love it, I really do love! America should be scammed, America has been scamming counntries and people for hundreds of years. What goes around comes around! Go Afrika!!!

First question: Was this story factual or just another abc/disney/Republican Party docudrama? Come to think of it, who better than abc/disney/Republican Party to produce a story about scams?

Only a gullible, greedy individual with no morals will accept to be sucked into the Nigerian scam. What the 20/20 report failed to mention is how many Nigerians fall victim, in Nigeria to these scams each year.
Whether Nigerian, American or an alien from an unknown planet, they all deserve what they get. My two cents !

My sister did that to me when l was 4 and l did not fall for it. Ooops l was not a congressman.

Gosh, you mean the Clintons would actually associate with felons? I don’t believe it!

Mr. Okafor has it right– Mezvinsky is crazy. He tried to plead insanity at his trial. (History of bipolar disorder combined with the use of an anti-malaria drug that’s been known to make people go around the bend) Sad story– whatever you think of him, his wife’s a rare good person among politicians, (and was willing to vote for what she thought was right rather than what she thought would get her reelected– she was the deciding vote in the 1993 Clinton tax increase which helped balance the budget, and it cost her reelection) and his lunacy has wrecked her political career.

Gee, I got so many of these, at least 5 of them a day. My son would get mad at me because I would email them back and say “What you think I am so stupid that I don’t know that this is a scam? get real I would even tell them that I had given the information to the FBI and they were on their way now to arrest them and then I would also tell them that it did me a world of good to know that they were not going to be able to go to Heaven and be with God because of the evil that they were doing and that they would not be in heaven and that was my reward. I always replied to everyone I got for a while telling them I was acutally getting paid for every email that I forward to the FBI and thanked them for helping me to make money by turning them in. I have no idea if it worked, but I don’t get very many any more maybe one or two a month, so they realized that I was not a SUCKER hey if it sounds too good to be true. IT USUALLY IS. what I want to know is when are you going to bust the ones that do the email lottery scam?????

Gee, I got so many of these, at least 5 of them a day. My son would get mad at me because I would email them back and say “What you think I am so stupid that I don’t know that this is a scam? get real I would even tell them that I had given the information to the FBI and they were on their way now to arrest them and then I would also tell them that it did me a world of good to know that they were not going to be able to go to Heaven and be with God because of the evil that they were doing and that they would not be in heaven and that was my reward. I always replied to everyone I got for a while telling them I was acutally getting paid for every email that I forward to the FBI and thanked them for helping me to make money by turning them in. I have no idea if it worked, but I don’t get very many any more maybe one or two a month, so they realized that I was not a SUCKER hey if it sounds too good to be true. IT USUALLY IS. what I want to know is when are you going to bust the ones that do the email lottery scam?????

“Would anyone like to bet that “Democratic” was quietly added to the second paragraph well after this post went up?”
want to bet dittoheads are stupid?

This Nigerian or African Scam is a multi-billion dollar business. There are millions of Americans who got involved and are involved, mostly being scammed by the scammers. The majority are at the least educated enough to be computer literate. The majority of “the contributers” are of the baby-boom generation. Most of the people who are scammed are for the most part good, honest, law-abiding citizens and many with religious high moral backgrounds. The Nigerian/African scams offer what appears to be the real American Dream. Many of the victims, though willing victims, are in the real sense desparate to improve their social and economic condition. Most are just tired of trying so hard and seeming to get no where for their hard fought blood, sweat, and tears. The Nigerians/African scams are the remedy for what is the last gasp of hope. In the end, all of the scammed Americans feel stupid, guilty, ashamed, embarrassed. The syndrome is like that of a rape victim. As noted by most of the remarks that I have seen, where are all those “stupid, greedy, dishonest, crooked, corupt, ignorant, lazy, good-for-nothing, get-something-for-nothing,dumb, idiotic…..” people, felllow Americans. The wounds of the “willing victim” are deep. At least the rape victims know they are being raped. The Nigerian/African scammers rape their victims with the victims eyes wide open, the victim is helping, assisting, waiting on, and this can go on for days, weeks, months, and for some a couple of years, before the victim realizes they can be raped no more because they have given away the cash dollars, and can not get the money back. Then the victims must deal with the financial aftermath, the financial castrophe left behind. Some victims even mortgage and over-mortgage their homes, give away their life savings, sell their vehicles, jewelry, family heirlooms, anything of value to go after their “pot of gold’. If you were to study suicides, many were triggered as a result of loss from falling victim to these Nigerian/African scams. Many divorces follow the victims of the Nigerian/African scams. Many American families are torn apart, as a result of these Nigerian/African scams. Most of the victims suffer in silence. Instead of rallying around and supporting our fellow American victims, they are instead ridiculed. For those of you who think you can distance yourself from these suffering victims, you can not. These Nigerian/African scammers are laughing at you too, all the way to the bannk!

That video all seemed a little too staged for me…
Did that guy in the scammer video say “I want you to leave”? I’m supposed to believe that these people weren’t arrested? No one in that “room full of intelligence” called the police? And those scammers are still out there? No one mentioned that scamming is illegal to abc?
Seriously, is the media now taking the role of the law enforcement and judicial systems? Are they that arrogant AND that stupid?

Hello out there. You who say that the article doesn’t say he was a Democrat. What party do you think a former Democratic congressman would be in. Don’t you know how to read? If it says he is a former Democratic congressman, that identifies him as a Democrat. No Einstiens in here.

I appreciate the informative report on financial schemes to fraud Americans, but your depiction of Lagos was tasteless and quite racist. Mr. Ross I believe you called the city a “wasteland”. You gave no background on the city’s history. For starters, you should have noted that the city was once the capital of Nigeria. British colonialism and slavery could also answer some of the squalid conditions in some parts of the area.
Africa rarely gets any television time and you or your editors decided to make this report the center piece of the Friday 20/20 show? Scams are nothing new. A fool and his money will soon depart. I hope you didn’t want your viewers to feel sorry for the intelligent congressman, heart surgeon, and lawyer? In light of the grave conditions in some parts of Africa your reporting should have been extra sensitive. You wasted value television time on trash reporting when millions of lives are in the balance in Sudan. The African Community needs American support not disdain. Cheers Mr. Ross for giving an unbalance report and framing all Africans as scammers. The next time you do a negative report on a city/nation/continent please follow-up with an informative segment on the same show.

As a Nigerian, this is very embarassing to hear. But it is the truth, and I was wondering when this ugly truth would have light shade on it. The part this segment did not capture is that the Nigerian government has a huge role to play in this. Most of this scammers are educated and are trying to make a living and while they should be responsible for their action. How are you held responsible when it is routine for officials to steal millions and millions of Naira for their own personal use while rendering Nigerian citizens unemployed, without the basic neccesities of life(water, good streets, clean air, no good schools,no clean street) except for these officials that their salary is maybe 1% of what they actually acquire from their positions. And lets not forget some officials are also doing this scams.

I am personally incensed with the statement on the show yesterday about how Lagos is “a disgrace of a city” who the hell is he to call where millions of people call home a disgrace. By the way these people are the happiest people on earth! You with all of your nice roads and amenities can’t survive withour prozac! It is just wrong!
And when are they going to do a show about all the good the many Nigerian professionals are doing for these country.
I am Nigerian, I have a reason to believe that these people know me and I still haven’t fallen prey yet. Who ever falls is either clueless or just greedy. Maybe if they become a little bit more aware of their surroundings and watch the news every once in a while the 419 guys won’t dupe them.

i’m a nigerian and i live in nigeria..In a country of more than 100 million people…its just dis-heartening and shameful that some few idiots would be damaging our image,especially abroad.. If only the Nigerian Government will also do the right thing and provide jobs,, than having foreign account,.. but one thing is for sure, the people dat do these things don’t measure up to even 5% of the population.. its a very sad event

Tell me how this all of the sudden have to do with The Clintons,
especially Chelsea?
How silly to have this conversation at all. What does this have to do with the Iraq war with our troops dieing and bloodshed of the innocent washed
over the roads.
What’s wrong with this conversation is that you all fell for the media smoke and mirrors
to take the real news and hide it
with hogwash! I should think that
death of the innocent in Iraq and our troops should be what we all should shout out loud about. Maybe if all the times spent spewing useless air, use it for some good.
Yell about a war that’s taking peoples lives for no reason at all.
Know you all are being used, while
there are real issues in America
that are swept under the rug.
If it’s fantasy you want it will be fantasy you’ll get, the media is right there to make dummy’s out of us all.The word for all of this foolish talk,if it’s a word is DUH!

I’m shocked. Republicans turn a story of the possible future father-in-law of the daughter of the ex-and-perhaps-future-president into an attack on Liberals, The Media, and The Clintons.
Bush Lied about weapons of mass destruction. Clinton had oral sex. Deal with it.

Shocking indeed. Outside a debate on about the legitimacy of this piece, I would say the reporting was at least as FAIR and BALANCED as the typical fare on Fox News…

DON’T MIND THEM Y’ALL LIKE LOIUSIANA IS NOT A “WASTELAND” I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS AMERICA WHEN KATRINA LANDED THERE!!!! ALSO THEY LOVE TO GO TO THE SLUMS OF 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES, NEXT TIME COME AND ASK US AND WE WILL SHOW YOU HOW THE RICH ARE LIVING IN NIGERIA. WAS THAT THING YOU SHOWED US AN ARREST?? THAT WAS REALLY FUNNY, YOU ARE ARRESTING THE WRONG PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO SCAM YOU CANNOT BE TOUCHED, BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A PLACE PROTECTED BY THE MILITARY, SO YOU DARE NOT EVEN GO CLOSE….THAT IS WHY YOU ARE SHOWING THE ONLY PLACE YOU WERE ALLOWED INTO. MUGUS!!! DON’T BE SURPRISED YOU WERE EVEN SCAMMED AS YOU WENT TO GET YOUR SO CALLED NEWS!

Brain,
I condemn the actions of these scammers. Most of us Nigerian who live here in the US are hard-working and law abiding even though you fail to exact the difference. Certainly you failed to hit on the chickens as much as you hit on the hawks you chose to call victims.
For a surgeon and a pastor of a church to trust someone who would smuggle money from no other place in the world but poor Africa that did not belong to him (scammer) to handover to a surgeon or pastor who are already rich is incomprehensible. Yet your broadcast let them all easily. They too have as bad a moral compass as the scammers: both sides were trying to reap where they did not sow and deserve equal condemnation from your broadcast. The so-called victims are responsible for what happened to them when they failed to heed the economic warning: buyers Beware!

As Nigerians, my husband and I watched the show last night after seeing a preview of it on GMA that morning. I thought it was entertaining at best. I can’t believe Americans still fall for these tricks!!! These scams have been going on since I was a kid in Nigeria. Many “419″ people have been caught but there are always newcomers who keep coming up with new scam after scam. I always get a ton of the emails myself and obviously delete it. Nigerians are probably not the only ones doing this scam but we know ourselves that alot of people in the country do participate in some type of scam. I don’t think you should’ve focused on Nigerians as been the bad guys though- the Americans who also wanted quick and easy money are also at fault. Especially the ones who gave the nigerians money after money- those are the real mugus!! FYI, I love the fact that Brian Ross actually said the word mugu- it was HILARIOUS!

The stupidity of your readers amazes me. Out all the commentators to your article it appears only one guy got it right. Who is the victim here, folks? Lets review the nut paragraph. “Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa, is serving a seven-year sentence for fraud after getting caught up in a series of Nigerian e-mail scams…But then, says Zauzmer, Mezvinsky began to steal from clients and even his own mother-in-law to raise the money to try yet another scheme.”
Also, please tell that stupid MUGUS “WE WILL NOT SHARE OUR OIL!!” that you cannot eat oil. If we Americans did not buy your oil, you still be living in huts and eating jungle meat. If you want to eat, you got to sell your oil. Get a Clue!

Could ABC 20/20 ask Haliburton (US Energy Company)and its subsidiaries (kellog Brown), why they didn’t pay taxes of upto 90 million dollars? Do you have any idea what 90 million dollars could do in a country like Nigeria? Could someone ask all the western banks to return stolen monies back to Africa? Nigeria borrowed less than 6 billion from western countries & institutions, but have repaid well over 20 billion dollars and are still owing 12 billion dollars! (Note that this was based on 6 billion dollars borrowed) Last year alone, Nigeria paid 12 billion dollars to have 80% of the debt cancelled. Do you have any idea what that money would have done? how many lives that money would have saved? roads that would have been built? Libraries furnished? Schools built? Well, when all these corporate and international exploitations are exposed and corrected by ABC’s 20/20, then we can talk about greed and scammers. When all is said and done, the real question is why are these young people sending these emails? Could it be consdequent upon unpaid taxes by big western companies? or exploitation by western companies & countries? This report was the most unprofessional and unconscionable report i have ever seen. A balanced report shouldn’t just tell us about the broken trust of a doctor but also about the broken trust and shattered hope of the average Nigerian through corruption with the very connivance of foreign banks and exploitation by rich multinational companies and there governments.

This is unbelievable! I have the urge to check snopes to see if it’s another hoax. How could he be so stupid? What does this say about your elected officials?

Anyone with an OUNCE of sense would know better than to believe those phony e-mails! I mean, how can you surrender your personal information to people you don’t know!?!?!?

Let’s see, he was a Democratic Congressman thirty years ago, and was convicted of stealing from clients five years ago, and some commenters on this site claim “liberal bias” because it didn’t state he used to be a Democratic politician thirty years ago?
But, the article tied Bill and Hillary to this crook, did it not?
Do I detect a pattern of how msm is going to behave now that their client, the GOP, has been defeated?
“Liberal Bias”, hahahahahahahaha thanks for the days belly laugh.

Second paragraph identifies the former congressman as a democrat; sixth paragraph identifies his wife as a democrat. Cannot those conspiracy theorists read….or do they only pay attention to details in an article if the word penis is present?

Thanks for informing me/us about ‘the Mezvinsky situation’. This will really makes it difficult for me to run with my “invisible money scam”–you know the one about that “seemingly” empty box containing a gazillion dollars that only requires a few drops of my anti-invisible dollar compound to turn you into an instant gazillionaire. However, those drops do command a rightfully handsome price and in 100% “visible” dollars, of course.
Damn the luck!

I am not the least bit surprised
that so many gullible Americans
have been scammed. Why do you think
Bush was re-elected? All you have
to do is blow smoke in their faces
and they can’t see anything going
on around them.

“COMMON SENSE,”? ARE YOU SURE OF THIS NAME? AND BY THE WAY, ARE YOU A 4 YEAR OLD? YOU SEEM TO BE LACKING ANY FORM OF SENSE, FROM WHAT YOU WROTE, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY MYOPIC IN YOUR REASONING……PLEASE DO NOT SIT IN YOUR COUCH AND THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD (Hut, jungle meat??? ROFL!! do some research) NIGERIANS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EDUCATED PEOPLE IN THE WORLD…..NOTE TO SELF – “WE WILL NOT SHARE OUR OIL” IS A NIGERIAN SLANG/JOKE, LIKE MUGUS??!!! BY THE WAY DO YOU BUY OIL?? BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, YOU STEAL THEM! PERHAPS THE NAME SHOULD BE CHANGED TO “LACK OF COMMON SENSE:>) Get a Clue!
ALANG, THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!

The man must be very stupid to have fallen 3 times for same scam. Poor fool !!!

Well, as an intellegent young woman living in this land of honest pure hearted folk, I am absolutely amazed that people like congressman could be duped in such a terrible fashion. I mean why would a man who supposedly represents this country be even the least bit knowledgeable about international affairs? Nigeria and its problems with corruption have only been an issue since…they were colonized??? (ALL Sarcasm intended.) I find it disheartning to see how corrupt our own officials could be in supporting an effort that supposedly smuggles money out of another nation. Yeah…that sounds real legit to me. As a congressman, i’m appalled at his behavior. For the so-called “victims” of this scam, you all are just as greedy as the thieves. The only thing is that they worked harder at being theives. Does the scam even make any logical sense?? I think not. It’s still ashame however that the entire country must be painted in such a demeaning manner, when the poverty levels in the country clearly indicate that money is not flowing into the country like that. If one is looking for the scammers, look at the top of the food chain, with the likes of congressmen, and corrupt chiefs.

WHAT AN IDIOT!

Am sorry to hear of all these people who fall for these scams. Firstly i am a nigerian who was born there and in nigeria like anywhere else in the world there are fraudsters.
Anyone of you has probably come across one or the other of them before and did not falln for their tricks or scams because you saw thru their smooth talking.
the same goes for we nigerians also because we grew up around them its easy to recognize who fraudsters are.
The bottom line is when something sounds too good to be true it probably is.
Or how many times have you heard a nigerian actually fell for this type of scams that come thru emails.they may fall for others scams done in the country but certainly not online.
I get them sent to my email also nd i promptly delete them. i dont even open them.
I decided to put this post up today because i get tired of people generalizing all nigerians as scammers. they are millions of hard working honest people out there that are nigerians too.
If you are not greedy by not wanting to reap money that you did not work for then you certainly will not fall for a scam.

Well, “All that glitters they say is not a gold”. Not all Nigerians or people with Nigerian’s blood are scammers or what would you call a brilliant presenter SADE BADERINWA of your network station who has been making Nigerians proud in all ratifications.
Secondly, the Nigerian singer in your 20/20 show is not a scammer but a prominent Nigeria actor who is using music to educate not only the foreigners but also Nigerians alike to be aware of the activities of the con artist.
Additionally, to the gullible Americans I call you MUGU “BIG FOOL”, OLEE “THIEF”, ODE ” STUPID” or what else do you want me to call you to describe your action. You always think you can reap where you do not sow, you think lions, tigers, elephants and monkeys walk freely on the street of Africa. You think Africa is extremely under developed. Hey MUGU you are wrong. Or how will you explain your action; you want to reap Africa of Millions of DOLLAR you never work for. Don’t you reap enough from that continent? You took our oil, gold, diamond and human resources yet you are not satisfied. Truly, you are a “MUGU”,”OLEE” and loser and they are the WINNERS.
Finally, this is not the issue of Republica OR Democrat but a Moral ISSUES.

Greed seems synonymous with the wealthy. The people mentioned on the Brian Ross investigations were quite well to do – and they fell for it. These scams have been around for years. Interesting how the smell of money overcomes common sense. They got their just reward!

People who want too much tend to be the easiest to con. Has nothing to do with your social status or how wealthy you are.
As for those of you who missed it, the article clearly states “Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman”…*sigh* at those who have to make everything political.

let me tell you something Brian Ross or what ever you name is you and your network have nothing better to do think about ENRON.

I thought a good news broadcast was that of a non-biased one, how dare you guys enter into a country & call it “disgracful” or “a city of thieves”; when you are from a country that does things that others would call “disgraceful”, a country that has gangs & people who rob from daycare centers. I have been an avid fan of 20/20 for many years but this is just disgusting! Before we go into another country and judge them how about we take the time to find out why they are in the situation they are in, then extend our hand to help them out. Instead of extending our mouths to talk down on them.
There are many Nigerians who are hard-working, loyal, have morals & walk with more integrity than some who are not from another country. Good job 20/20 for lumping all the bad apples in with the good ones & letting unbiased reporting reign.

OK, am I the only one here to ask the most important question:
Why did ABC let the scammers go? Shouldn’t they have involved the police in the story so that the scammers could be arrested, prosecuted, and kept from repeating this on others?
And big deal, a few gready people lost their money. All of them are positioned well enough to recoup their losses. What about all the scams on the elderly who can’t afford to loose money?

even Nigerians receive this type of mail. only a sick person Nigerian or not will fall for such a scam. any body who falls for this scam is not just a mugu but also very greedy.

fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, the rest of the world wonders how i became a congressman.

Has anybody wondered why Nigeria is the only country where every body has to have a title.The problem in Nigeria is that everybody is dying for attention and social class instead of what is important to improve a society so people do everything they can to get money,title and social class. Having said this anybody who falls for this type of scam is a victim of their own making. They are indeed Mugus.

He was jailed because he was not a victim, he was looking for money he did not work for just like the scammers. His heart was not in the right place, he was looking for quick money.
I have received emails about things like this and all I do is threaten them with the law and advise them to get a job.

I tell you why the scammers were not arrested cos the victims would have to be arrested as well. Case in point the congress man, who by the way I feel is not dumb as we have been led to think. He probably has the money stashed away some place and just used this scam as a cover up. Think about it the money can not be recovered if it was a scam. I declare the real scammer here is the congress man. How dumb ABC and others that believed his story are!!! Not surprised half the people posting can’t recognize, spell or read the word “DEMOCRAT”.

I am quite amazed at the noise being raised on ‘Nigerian’ scams. A scam is a scam, Nigerian or Polish. What you all [media] need to include as guide to your viewers/readers is a clear warning not to be greedy. That is the only way to reduce/stop the number of ‘victims’.
If you did not invest or save money somewhere and hope to get millions in return from that thing, you are bound to get scammed.

“A fool at forty, will forever remain a fool” Why is the Scam so impotant to ABC, did you guys run out news? Well talk about “the Italian mafians,the insurance fraud in America, bank/credit card fraud, the TRUTH why America is in Iraq, Halliburton and it’s fraud. Talk about the internal problems of America, Talk about the news media, and their false informations. Believe it or not, another “MUGU” will be hooked from this great Country.

When you think about a topic that is as delicate as this, you would think that ABC news would have created a comments form that doesn’t show all of our email addresses when you click on or rollover any of out names. Just a thought.

Before you start crucifying Nigeria and saying all sorts about the citizenry; please be aware that the real scam Lords are the Shell’s and Chevron’s alike who take all the natural wealth in the form of Oil and Gas and give little in return while paying off top officials of the government to fund their greedy lifestyles. Serves whoever got scammed right because the biggest scammers are those bastards who taught it right to enslave people against their will and create some stupid organisation called UN advocating human rights while the truth glares in our face everyday of the poverty and suffering of the African people. Now the tables are turning hope you like what you’ve created.

Over the years I have been contacted several times! Even as recently as, a week ago via e-Mail by the “NIGERIAN SCAMMERS” I notified the FBI … hoping they can trace these SOB’s, guess what? NOTHING came out of it! For the life of me, I’m STUNNED that people here at home, continue to participate/victimized by the BRAZEN $$$ FRAUDS … must be CRACK addicted NUMB-SKULLS!

The song is right. People are greedy, and they should feel like fools. The Nigerian scammers are not the only ones to be blamed

“Ed Mezvinsky, a former Democratic Congressman from Iowa” His party IS mentioned right in the 2nd paragraph.

I will tell you why Scams like this works and has been seen to work well
Greed
If I may bring you nearer home. The GOP Campaigns have been playing such Political Scams on Americans successfully long before my Parents immigrated into this great Country since 1960 and they keep using the same set of rules to intimidate and cripple your minds with fear while whipping up your emotions.
Emotions invalidates all sense of reasoning.
Until a difference is made between sympathy and empathy. Until Greed is replaced contentment, until fear is replaced with bravery, People will keep falling for Scams, be it Financial or Political Scams.

The “black money” scam is just a COVER for another scam, wouldn’t you say? Do you really think Mezvinsky fell for the scam THREE times? Methinks not. What better way to hide ill-gotten gains: claim someone stole your loot! Maybe they’ll even sympathize with you, poor victim of a dirty Nigerian black money scam.

Haha, this guy isn’t too bright obviously.

Dear Sirs,
It seems incredible that a US Congressman fell for this age old imbecillic Nigerian scam, which has been in operation since at least the early Eighties and on which at that time newspaper comments and warnings were published.
On the otherhand, I have some other cases on file concerning totally naive and gullible -important- US Businesspeople who fell for other Nigerian & international scams, which a ‘devious’ European would only smile about.
Maybe this naivety also explains the US global success in international politics ?
NB
I have personally known a Pakistani ‘Businessman’ who -after being warned by me and others- still carried on and lost his family fortune…
I agree with one of the comments hereabove, that it stretches the imagination a bit far that “Mr M” fell for this and was punished for his own stupidity and loss of his own money.
If loosing your OWN money would be a crime, half of humanity could be jailed.
I must agree with other commentators, suggesting that he may have been raising money from others to participate in this harebrained scheme OR might even been promoting this scheme FOR the Nigerians.
It would also be interesting to learn if any of the Nigerian Operators have been caught & sentenced.

Hey, you guys quit acting smart, you will all be as easily scammed, so put aside the loud-mouth.Let me bemoan the fact that someone else milked this cow not me…

Whitewater, black money how fitting that these two lying criminal families get together.